Perceived Stigma as a Risk Factor for Delay in Seeking Treatment of Leprosy Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tuban Regency

Abstract

Tuban Regency is a leprosy endemic area. Leprosy prevalence in 2018 was 1.5 per 10,000 population with 177 new cases, about 87% of new leprosy cases are MB type and 11% have grade II disability. The high number of MB type and grade II disability leads to the low awareness of treatment-seeking behavior, as early as immediately after symptoms appear. This study aimed to prove that perceived stigma is a risk factor for delay in seeking treatment for leprosy patients. Cross-sectional study design was used in this study and the subject consisted of 112 leprosy patients, selected by proportional random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. This study showed most of the subjects ranged from 15-60 years, more than half were male, most had low levels of education with low income. Most subjects suffered from the MB type of leprosy. More than half experienced delays in seeking treatment and did not experience disabilities. The variables such as knowledge, attitude, perceived susceptibility and severity of leprosy, and perceived stigma associated with the delay in seeking treatment, and only perceived stigma was proven as a risk factor for delay in seeking treatment of leprosy patients (p = 0.002; OR 4.458 (95% CI; 1,700-11,690)